This file was last updated on February 14, 2021.
The business of carpenter is a craft profession which brings together several specialties. Every year in France, many entrepreneurs open their own carpentry business. The market is active, both new and renovation. For create and open a carpentry business, several steps must be taken. Indeed, this profession is regulated at several levels.
This guide explains everything you need to know to create and open a carpentry business :
The carpenter is a professional whose activity consists in work with wood, PVC and even metal. The activity is artisanal when the company has less than 10 employees, or commercial if it has more than 10 employees. The profession of carpenter is a regulated activity, qualifications or conditions of experience are necessary to exercise it.
There are currently around 56,000 carpentry companies in France. The sector is mainly made up of companies with less than 1 employees. Almost one in four professionals is a micro-entrepreneur.
The APE codes of carpentry companies are the following :
- 43.32A Wood and PVC joinery work,
- 43.32B Metal carpentry and locksmith work.
The collective agreement applicable to this sector of activity is as follows: National collective agreement for joinery, frameworks and industrialized constructions and flat doors of January 19, 2017. This agreement can be consulted on the website Legifrance.gouv.fr
Starting a business – Our tools to support you
—
The trade of carpenter is a regulated profession. Only a person with proof of professional qualification for the trade of carpenter, or with sufficient experience, can control a company in this industry. Here are the access conditions:
- hold a diploma allowing the exercise of the profession: CAP carpenter manufacturer of joinery, furniture and fitting, or carpenter installer, BTS arrangement of the architectural environment or a professional baccalaureate technician carpenter-designer,
- failing this, justify professional experience of at least 3 years in the exercise of this profession.
Finally, it is no longer compulsory to follow an installation preparation course before opening a carpentry business.
In addition to being a professional who perfectly masters the exercise of his profession, the future independent carpenter will have to manage his entire activity. This implies having other qualities to be successful.
Knowing how to design plans and produce quotes
When prospects come to ask the company for work, it will be necessary todevelop quotes. The business manager must master this exercise perfectly to be certain of achieving the desired profitability on each site. The service must be sold at the right price.
Know how to sell to customers and conclude contracts
To successfully launch the activity, the business manager will have to find his first customers to record turnover and develop his business.
Usually, a prospect contacts several companies. The realization of the projects will involve know how to convince customers to engage with the company. You must therefore be responsive, have good interpersonal skills, offer fair quotes at market prices, be proactive, and take care of your presentation.
Knowing how to organize and plan work sites
Then, when the first site opportunities will begin to arrive, the business manager will have to plan your interventions. The sites must follow one another correctly, and the interventions must take place on the scheduled dates.
In addition, the opening of a construction site impliesorganisation. The business manager must plan supplies on time so as not to find himself blocked. This is an important point, especially since the delivery times are sometimes long (as on the doorframes for example).
Knowing how to manage employees and teams
Finally, when the activity begins to develop, the business manager can quickly be confronted with problems of recruitment. Sometimes, given the complexity of the sites, it is essential to intervene with a team.
Following the first hires, the business manager has an additional role: that ofemployer. In addition to having to manage all administrative issues, it will be necessary to manage teams and organize their work.
At the level of investments, we generally find the following expenses:
- professional vehicles to get to work sites and transport equipment,
- tools and professional equipment,
- the layout and layout of the business premises,
- the sign and advertising markings on vehicles.
To limit the overall amount of the initial investment, it is possible to use second-hand equipment, and also to prefer rentals or leases instead of acquisitions.
From main expense items, we generally find: purchases of materials, hardware, fuel and vehicle maintenance, small tools, room rent, office supplies, personnel costs, insurance costs, management (accountant, bank charges, etc.), advertising and travel expenses.
The taxation and social contributions of the business owner will depend on the business creation choices made. It is imperative to calculate them correctly in the forecast to obtain a financial vision of the project as realistic as possible.
In return, the business plan must integrate the estimated turnover. The assessment of this element is delicate, especially when there is very little visibility on the first sites. The objectives must be consistent with regard to the company’s ability to carry out projects.
To create a business, several legal status are possible. To refine the possible choices, the first criterion to be taken into account corresponds to the number of participants. The main options are:
- The sole proprietorship, the EURL and the SASU for professionals who set up alone.
- SARL and SAS when the project brings together several partners.
Since many files have already been devoted to the comparison of the legal statuses on Le Coin des Entrepreneurs, we invite you to consult our following information guides:
In addition to having to proceed with the formalities of setting up the company, it is also necessary to take out the right insurance contracts, and, if necessary, to obtain the RGE label.
The creation and registration of a carpentry business
The carpentry activity is a craft. During the creation of the company, a registration at the chamber of trades and crafts (CMA) is therefore mandatory.
The procedures for creating and registering the company depend on its legal form. To find out more about this, we invite you to consult our formalities guides:
Professional insurance to carry out the activity
Before the opening of any site, a carpentry company must provide proof of insurance Professional Liability. You must therefore insure your business before starting the activity.
Then, in the event of intervention on major works and construction sites, insurance ten-year civil liability is obligatory.
Obtaining the RGE label (Recognized Guarantor of the Environment)
In order for the company’s customers to benefit from State aid for certain works, the company must hold the label RGE (Recognized Guarantor of the Environment). This label is obtained after completing training with an approved body. It is available in several versions: RGE qualibat, RGE Eco artisan… You can obtain all the information on this subject here: the RGE label (economie.gouv.fr).
The label allows customers in particular to apply for aid such as the tax credit for the energy transition (CITE) or the zero-rate eco-loan (eco-PTZ).
After opening your carpentry business, you will have to comply with all the regulations governing the exercise of the activity. The building trades are required to respect several rules.
Worker safety and electrical clearance
The employer is required to implement the general principles of prevention on construction sites which are provided for by the Labor Code.
Then, only authorized workers can carry out operations on the electrical installations or in their vicinity. It is the company that provides the authorization to its employees.
Finally, within the framework of the prevention of the health of young workers, it is forbidden to entrust people under the age of 18:
- demolition work involving risks of collapse and burial,
- or work exposing them to a high level of vibration or to extreme temperatures.
Apply for the BTP card for company employees
As an employer, the carpentry company must apply for a construction card for each of its employees who performs, directs or organizes building work. You will get all the information you need about this here: the BTP card.
Issue a driving license to each employee who uses construction machinery
The company must issue a driving license to each employee who uses self-propelled machinery or lifting devices on construction sites (crane, construction machinery, forklift, etc.). Before issuing this authorization, the company must assess the employee’s aptitude to drive such vehicles safely.
Work in accordance with RT 2012 regulations
Insulation materials and their installation must comply with thermal regulations 2012 (RT 2012).
For more information on this subject: rt-batiment.fr
Inform consumers about the prices of services
The decree of January 24, 2017 imposes information rules on professionals who carry out:
- certain breakdown, repair and maintenance services in the building and household equipment sectors;
- replacement or addition operations of parts, elements or devices, following the implementation of the aforementioned services.
Before concluding the contract, the company must communicate the following information to the customer:
- the hourly labor rate (s) inclusive of all taxes (TTC);
- the methods of counting the estimated time;
- where applicable, the prices including tax of the various flat-rate services offered, in particular the prices per linear meter or per square meter;
- where applicable, travel expenses;
- the paid or free nature of the estimate, and, where applicable, the cost of establishing the estimate;
- where applicable, any other condition of remuneration.
Comply with security and accessibility standards (ERP)
Establishments open to the public are required to comply with a number of safety and accessibility standards.
These standards can be viewed here: ERP Service-public.fr